Wolverhampton Wanderers have taken steps to prevent Cardiff City supporters attending the match between the clubs at Molineux on January 20 after "ugly scenes" marred their two previous encounters at the stadium.

After several meetings of the West Midlands Safety Advisory Group (SAG), who include representatives of West Midlands Police, Wolverhampton City Council and the Football Licensing Authority, Wolves have been granted permission from the Football League not to sell any tickets to visiting supporters for the Coca-Cola Championship match.

Jez Moxey, the Wolves chief executive, said: "It was the unanimous view of the Group that, due to the severity of the problems experienced at Molineux last season and the season before, the only reasonable way of preventing a repeat of those ugly scenes and ensuring public safety was to sell no tickets to visiting Cardiff City fans for the match on January 20.

"If this decision plays even a tiny part in helping to reduce football-related hooliganism in the future, then it is a very small price to pay," he said.

Cardiff, the Championship leaders, have vowed to reverse the ban on their supporters.

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) are still waiting to conduct a hearing into the last time the teams met at Molineux, when visiting supporters clashed with West Midlands Police officer during half-time in the home side’s 2-0 win — delaying the restart by almost 15 minutes.

Peter Ridsdale, the Cardiff chairman, said: "We will be taking urgent steps to attempt to reverse this decision. The Football League board took this decision without giving Cardiff City Football Club any opportunity to discuss the situation or to make representations.

"Cardiff City does not accept that this decision is correct or improves safety. Indeed, we believe that this decision is more likely to put more pressure on policing."